WHS Athletes of the Year: Cayson Ramirez, Claire Ginter, and Lyndi Barton.

By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Lyndi Barton and Claire Ginter were named Wellington co-senior female athletes of the year. Cayson Ramirez was named senior male athlete of the year, as announced at the 2025-26 All-Sports Banquet held in the gymnasium on Wednesday.

This was one of the few times in many years of WHS sports history when two girls were named instead of one, meaning the race was “too close to call.” The annual award was chosen by Wellington Coaches.

Lyndi Barton was an all-league and all-stater in volleyball and basketball. 

Barton is a three-sport athlete who has received all-league and all-state recognition in volleyball and basketball. In volleyball, Barton was named second-team all-state by the Kansas Volleyball Association after helping the Crusaders tie the school win record with a 22-12 mark.

She had 343 kills in 2025, effectively killing the old record of 321. She also holds the point record of 422, with the second-place record being 0.369. She led the team with 4.2 kills per set and had the highest hitting percentage at .232.

In basketball, Barton broke the school record with two-point field goals in a season with 391, double-doubles in a season with five, field goals in a game (14), and blocks in a game (5). She was a post player for the Crusaders, helping the team achieve its fifth straight Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Div. IV title, a 23-3 record, and a fourth-place finish in 2026 after helping the team win a state championship in 2025. S

She was all-league and was on several all-state lists.

In track, Barton is participating in the triple jump and is helping the 4×100-meter relay team.

Claire Ginter at the Wellington Invitational in 2025. 

Claire Ginter placed 4th in pole vault at state in 2025. 

Ginter is a three-sport athlete in golf, basketball, and track. In golf, Ginter helped the Wellington team win its second consecutive Class 4A state runner-up trophy.

She also broke a school record in the Andale Invitational tournament at the Cherry Oaks Golf Course in Cheney. She shot a 73 for a one-over-par and placed first individually among 82 golfers.

She was also a key player for the WHS basketball team, where she started many games, replacing the injured Kylan Gregory.

Ginter is currently a returning state qualifier in the pole vault after finishing at state in 2025 with a 10-0 leap. She is also participating in the 4×100 relay team

Cayson Ramirez was a state qualifier in 2026 in wrestling. 

Cayson Ramirez (77) and Cameron Rosenberg (55) are blocking vs. Rose Hill.

Ramirez was an honorable-mention offensive lineman for the Wellington football team, which finished 8-3 and tied for second place in the AV-CTL D-IV.

Ramirez made his greatest mark in wrestling, where he finished 2-2 at the Class 4A State Wrestling Tournament in Salina last March. He was the lone representative to represent Wellington at the state tournament. He qualified the week before in the state tournament when he knocked out No. 2 seed Dalton Wulf of Clearwater.

He finished the year at 30-13. Ramirez has signed to wrestle at Ottawa University.

Ramirez is also a participant in track, where he now holds the school hammer throw record. He is also a shot put and discus thrower.

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There were 17 sports recognized at the banquet. Swimming, Cross Country, Cheer, Boys Basketball, Girls Tennis, Football, Golf, Girls Basketball, Wrestling, Track, Volleyball, Boys Tennis, Baseball, Softball, Dance and Powerlifting.

Some other awards given Thursday night included:

Milo Elder (32) after 8-yard touchdown reception in 2025. 

•Milo Elder won the John Gifford Award for football player with outstanding hustle.

Kylan Gregory gets Most Inspirational award. 

•Kylan Gregory won the most inspirational award for the Wellington girls’ basketball team.

Winfield swimming coach Jay Buffum at the Wellington All-Sports Banquet.

•The Winfield head swimming coach Jay Buffum came to Wellington to recognize the five Crusader girls now swimming for the Vikings as part of the cooperative agreement.

Coach Eric Adams with a commemorative poster.

•Outgoing coach Eric Adams was given a poster for his years of coaching the WHS girls’ teams. He announced his resignation earlier in the year.

For more pictures from the all-sports banquet, click here.